NasDem Agrees with Proposal for Presidential Candidates to Come from Party Cadres: To Ensure Motivation

Jakarta, VIVA – Deputy Chairman of the NasDem Party’s Central Board, Irma Suryani Chaniago, has approved the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) proposal that presidential candidates must originate from political party cadre systems to motivate and instil responsibility in cadres.

As a party cadre herself, she stated that career progression within the party would encourage cadres to remain loyal to their organisation.

“Of course, as a party cadre, I agree,” Irma said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to her, individuals aspiring to become presidential or vice-presidential candidates must first join as party cadres if they seek party support. This would thereby impose a moral responsibility towards the party.

Additionally, she suggested that cadre systems should apply to candidates for party chairmanship. However, she noted that the proposal limiting party chairmen to two terms would likely spark debate.

“However, there should indeed be a cadre system so that if something happens to the party chairman, the party can still endure,” she said.

Meanwhile, NasDem Party Secretary-General Hermawi Taslim stated that the party already has a cadre system through its Academy of State Defence (ABN). Each year, he added, NasDem conducts tiered cadre training.

“Perhaps NasDem is one of the leading parties because from the outset it has had the Academy of State Defence (ABN), which serves as the central forge for cadres,” said Hermawi.

Previously, the KPK recommended revisions to Article 29 of the Political Parties Law, such as adding to Article 29 paragraph (1) letter a that party members consist of junior, intermediate, and senior cadres.

It also proposed regulating requirements for cadres aspiring to be candidates for DPR or DPRD members, for example, DPR candidates must be senior party cadres, while provincial DPRD candidates must be intermediate cadres.

Furthermore, requirements for presidential and vice-presidential candidates or regional head and deputy candidates, besides being democratic and open, should include a clause that they originate from the party cadre system.

The KPK also proposed amending Article 29 of the Political Parties Law to regulate the minimum period of party membership before being nominated in general elections.